Stamp or ticket vending apparatus.



G. L. RICHARDS.

STAMP 0P. TICKET VENDING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 16, 1910. 1,009,179, Patented NOV. 21, 1911.

4 SHEETSSHEET 1.

96% (2' 602198 Z, 1 2 z'c/zcacZs fimww COLUMBIA Pumoumms co.. WASHINGTON. D. c

G. L. RICHARDS.

STAMP OR TIGKET VENDING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 16, 1910.

1,009,179. Patented Nov. 21, 1911.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

wt: (57168866 fnvm 607':

% 4 A 'oigefdjatbkards m %?46 4M;

G. L. RICHARDS. STAMP 0R TICKET VENDING APPARATUS.

W11 tnesseex Inventor,

COLUMBIA FLANOGRAPH cm, WASHINGTON. n. c-

e. L. RICHARDS.

STAMP OR TICKET VENDING APPARATUS.

APPLIOATIOH FILED AUG 16, 1910.

Patented Nov. 21, 1 911.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

coumsu PLANOGRAPH co.,wAsmNG'r0N. D c.

TiniTnn STATES PATENT oTTTon.

GEORGE LIVINGSTON RICHARDS, 0F KINGSWAY, LONDON, ENGLAND.

STAMP 0R TICKET VENDING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 21, 1911.

Application filed August 16, 1910. Serial No. 577,515.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE LIVINGSTON RICHARDS, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Bank Buildings, Kingsway, in the county of London, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stamp or Ticket Vending Apparatus, of which the following is a speci fication.

This invention relates to vending apparatus, the object being to provide an apparatus which will permit of articles such as postage stamps, labels, passenger tickets or the like being vended with greater facility and in a more reliable manner than has heretofore been the case.

According to this invention the insertion of a coin or coins in the apparatus serves to release a lever which is capable of being operated to feed and cut the stamps or the like from sheets and count and issue the same automatically.

In order that the said invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into eii'ect I will proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved apparatus, Fig. 2 a front elevation, and Fig. 3 a plan thereof. Figs. 4 and 5 are respectively a front and side elevation of the advertisement device pertaining to the apparatus. Fig. 6 is a detail view of the gearing for actuating the strip feed rollers.

' a is a table provided with guides a, a and having a pair of feed rollers a a for feeding the stamps or the like to the knife 60. The upper feed roller a which is operatively connected to the lower roller by gearing a is adapted to be lifted out of engage ment therewith by actuating the levers M, a

which are mounted upon the same shaft 0, v

and are connected by a rod a with the bearing (4 of the said roller; the bearing being capable of vertical movement in slots or the like formed in the framing of the apparatus. The roller a is normally retained in engagement with the lower roller a by the action of the springs b which serve to keep the bearings of the roller in the lowest posi- H parts of the apparatus.

tion.

I) is the actuating lever which is adapted to be rotated in a clock-wise direction to operate the knife a and actuate the other The shaft 6 on with the ratchet arm d.

which the lever b is mounted, carries a gear wheel 6 which is connected by a pair of wheels I), b to the wheel I) carried by the shaft 6'. On this latter shaft is mounted a mutilated gear wheel 6 which imparts the necessary motion to the lower intermittent gear wheel I)". The wheel 6 is mounted on the same spindle as a mutilated wheel 6 and this latter wheel in turn imparts motion to the lower intermittent pinion 0. The shaft 0 on which this pinion is mounted carries the gear wheels 0 which the wheels 0 being connected with the knife a by rods 0 and pins 0 0 The pins 0 are arranged eccentrically on the wheels 0 and the rotation of the same serves to impart the necessary reciprocating motion to the knife to effect the severing of the stamps or the like from the sheet.

0 is a troughhaving feed rollers 0 0 and is arranged at right angles to the knife a and the feed rollers a a pertaining thereto. The strip of stamps or the like which has been severed from the sheet by the knife a enters said trough and is fed on by the rollers 0 0 arranged therein as is hereinafter described.

(Z is a coin slide and d an adjustable end piece which is actuated by the coin or coins in the slide when this latter is operated, or as in the present example, pushed in. The end pin d is coupled by a rod d wit-h a forked frame d which engages with the actuating lever b and which serves to lock the same until the coin or coins in the slide d drops or drop through the opening (i in the slide table WVhen the coin or coins is or are disengaged from the slide the front end of the forked frame (Z is moved sulficiently to release a ratchet arm 0Z mounted on and rotating with the actuating lever and in this manner permit said actuating lever and ratchet arm to be rotated; it being understood that the front end of the forked frame normally engages the ratchet arm d and prevents its movement. During the rotation of the lever b the ratchet arm d engages with the rear end of the forked frame 03 and returns the same to its initial position thereby preventing the actuating lever 1) from making more than one revolution, the said lever being locked by the front end of the forked frame again engaging The lever 72 will are arranged in either side of the apparatus 1 and engage or mesh with the gear wheels 0 remain locked until a further coin or further coins is or are inserted in the coin slide.

In order to prevent the actuating lever b from being turned in the wrong direction a ratchet wheel (Z is provided, said wheel being mounted on the framing (Z and engaging with the ratchet d carried by the ratchet arm (Z so as to prevent the move ment of the lever I) in a counter clock-wise direction. As the actuating lever b is being revolved after the insertion of a coin or coins in the slide d, the strip of stamps is fed forward the distance of one stamp in the trough c by the feed rollers 0 0 these rollers being operated by a mutilated pinion e which in turn is driven by another mutilated gear wheel 0 mounted on the shaft b of the actuating lever. As soon as the strip has been fed the distance of one stamp, the first stamp of the strip is severed from the strip by a knife carried by a slide 6 The slide 6 is mounted in the frame 6 and receives its motion from an internal cam 6 carried by a shaft 0 which actuates the fork e and lever e to impart the desired move ment to the slide 6 This operation of the slide 6 will take place until the strip of stamps is exhausted; when the last stamp of the strip is being issued, the sheet of stamps is fed forward automatically by the rollers (1 a".

The lower feed roller a pertaining to the table a is provided with a pinion e which is operated by a mutilated wheel 6 connected to an intermittent wheel 6 deriving its motion from the pinion b the gearing being such that the roller is actuated after each strip of stamps or the like is issued. The number of stamps in the strip does not affect the working of the apparatus as the aforesaid gearing would be arranged to operate in accordance with the number of stamps in the strip. A pin f on the wheel 6 engages with a rod f and the rod f operates a lever f which is connected by a rod f to the lever f*. This latter lever is connected to the shaft f carrying the frame of the strip feed roller 0 and the operation of the rod f causes the roller frame to lift and thereby allow the stamps to be fed forward under the roller. Directly the knife a has cut off the strip of stamps from the sheet as hereinbefore described, the roller frame 0 is returned to its original or normal position by the action of the spring f to hold or engage the strip of stamps. A lever f engages with a pin f mounted on the wheel I) so as to prevent the spring f returning the roller frame 0" too early or before the stamps are in position. The pin f disengages with the lever f directly after the strip has been cut off the sheet. In order to insure the feeding of the last row of stamps, arms f are provided. These arms are mounted on the shafts f which also carry the levers g, and are operated by the pin 1 engaging with the rod f, and this latter rod imparting movement to the pivoted lever g which in turn is connected to one of the levers g by a rod 9 The return movement of the arms f is effected by the spring f An advertising device may be mounted on the members 9 g of the frame above the stamp table a so as to be driven by a chain 9 connecting the sprocket wheels g 9 The wheel 9 is secured to the frame 9 which carries the leaves 9 bearing the advertisements, one leaf turning over at each operation of the actuating lever Z). The frame 9 is arranged on the shaft 9 which is supported by the members 70, is mounted on the framing of the apparatus.

Any type of counter or recorder may be employed for indicating the number of stamps issued and it would be operatively connected to the rocking lever 6 so as to be actuated each time a stamp is issued.

When the machine is employed for issuing stamps, these latter are usually supplied in sheets of a width of ten stamps. A sheet is placed upon the table a and is engaged between the rollers a a, the roller (0* being raised out of engagement with the roller (1 to allow of this being effected. The lever b is now turned in a clockwise direction and actuates the knife a which in descending severs a strip of ten stamps from the sheet. The lever 72 is released by a coin or coins in the slide (l actuating the frame d in the manner hereinbefore described. The 100 strip of stamps severed from the sheet falls into the trough 0 and is there engaged by therollers c 0 the former of which is automatically raised after each ten rotations of the lever Z) by the pin f engaging with 5 the lever f. The bottom roller 0 (Fig. 6) is driven through bevel gear 0 which is actuated bythe shaft is carrying the wheel 6.

The latter wheel is driven by the wheel 6 which is mounted on the shaft 6 together with the actuating handle I). On the insertion of a coin or coins in the slide d and the pushing in of said slide the lever b is free to make one revolution and through the gearing described feed on the strip of stamps and sever one stamp from said strip. The lever b Wlll be operated in this manner ten times and on each occaslon Wlll 1s sue a stamp. When the last stamp of the strip is being issued the sheet of stamps is automatically fed forward by the rollers a a and a further strip of ten stamps is severed therefrom, the knife 0 and rollers a a being operated after each ten revolutions of the lever Z) by means of the interrupted and mutilated gearing hereinbefore described.

In order to prevent the pilfering of stamps, the sheets of stamps are placed in a .locked compartment, several sheets being joined together. The counter is also arranged so as to be inaccessible and as it is operated in unison with the apparatus it automatically registers each stamp issued.

The apparatus may be employed for issuing labels or passenger tickets and the sheets of these latter may be of any width, as the apparatus can be readily adapted to operate with varying widths of sheets. It will also be obvious that the stamps or tickets may be drawn from a reel if desired and that instead of the slide containing the coin or coins being pushed into the machine, the latter may be adapted to draw the said slide into the machine upon the operation of the actuating lever, the withdrawal of the coin slide being prior to the release of the ratchet arm.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In a vending apparatus of the char acter described, the combination of a rotatably mounted actuating lever, a forked frame normally engaging with and locking the said lever, mechanism for disengaging said frame from the lever, means for resetting the said frame in the locking position, on the rotation of the lever, feed rollers for feeding a sheet of stamps or the like for severing strips from the said sheet, feed rollers for feeding the said strips, means for severing single portions from the said strips, and gearing whereby the said parts are operated by the aforesaid lever.

2. In a vending apparatus of the character described, the combination of an ac tuating lever, a forked frame normally looking the said actuating lever, mechanism for disengaging the said frame from the actuating lever, means for resetting the said frame in the locking position when the actuating lever is operated, feed rollers for a sheet of stamps or the like, means for separating said feed rollers, a knife for severing strips from the said sheet, feed rollers for the said strips, means for separating said feed rollers a knife for severing single portions from the said strip, and gearing whereby said parts are operated by the actuating lever.

3. In a vending apparatus of the character described, the combination of an actuating lever, a forked frame normally lookingsaid actuating lever, mechanism for disengaging said frame from the actuating lever, means for resetting the said frame when the actuating lever is operated, a plurality of pairs of feed rollers, means for separating said rollers, a plurality of knives, and gearing for imparting the movements of the actuating lever to the several parts.

4c. In a vending apparatus of the character described, the combination of an actuating lever, a forked frame controlling the movements thereof, a pair of sheet feeding rollers, a knife acting in conjunction therewith, gearing for imparting movement to the said sheet feeding rollers and knife, a pair of strip feeding rollers, a knife acting in conjunction therewith, and gearing for imparting movement to the said strip feeding rollers and knife.

5. In a vending apparatus of the char acter described, the combination of an actuating lever, an arm on the said lever, a ratchet on the arm, a stationary ratchet wheel engaging with the said ratchet, a sliding frame, projections on the said frame one of which is normally in engagement with the ratchet arm on the actuating lever, mechanism for disengaging the said frame from the ratchet arm, a pair of sheet feeding rollers, mechanism for separating the said rollers, a knife acting in conjunction with the said rollers, gearing for imparting movement to the sheet feeding rollers and knife, a pair of sheet feeding arms, a pair of strip feeding rollers, mechanism for sepa rating the said rollers, a knife pertaining to the said rollers, and gearing for imparting movement to the strip feeding rollers and knife.

In testimony whereof I aiiiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE LIVINGSTON RICHARDS.

Witnesses:

P. M. JORDAN, L. E. BROOKS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents- Washington, D. G. 

